CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 133, 10 June 1867, Page 3

CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.

A girl, young and pretty, and above all gifted with an air of admirable Parisian candour, lately presented herself before a lawyer. ." Monsieur, I have come to consult you upon a grave affair. 1 want you to oblige a man I love to marry me in spite of himself. How shall I proceed ?" The gentleman of the bar had, of course, a sufficiently elastic conscience. He reflected a moment, and then, being sure that no third person overheard him, replied hesitatingly : "Mademoiselle, according to our law, you always possess the meaus of forcing a man to marry you. You must remain on three occasions alone with him ; you can then go before a judge, and swear that he is your lover." "And will that suffice, monsieur ?" " Yes, mademoiselle, with one further condition." "Well ?" "Then you will produce witnesses who will make oath to have seen you remain a a good quarter of an hour with the individual said to have trifled with your affections." '•'Very well, monsieur, I will retain you as counsel in the management of this affair. Good day." A few days afterwards the lady returned. She was mysteriously received by the lawyer, who scarcely giving her time to seat herself, questioned her with the most lively curiosity. " Capital, capital." "Perseverein yourdesign, mademoiselle; but mind, the nest time you come to consult me give me the name of the man you are going to make so happy in spite of himself." "You shall hare it without fail." A fortnigut afterwards, the lady knocked at the door of the counsel's room. No sooner was she within, she flung herself in a chair, saying that the walk had made her breathless. Her counsel eudeavored to reassure her, made her inhale salts, and proposed to unloose her collar. "It is useless, monsieur," she said, "I am much better." " Well, now tell me the name of the fortunate mortal." " Well, then, the fortunate mortal, be it known to you is — yourself!"- said the young beauty, burstng into a laugh. " I love you ; I have been here three times tete-a-tete with you, and my four witnesses are below, ready and willing to accompany me to a magistrate," gravely continued the uarrator. The lawyer, thus caught, had the good sense not to get angry. The most singular fact of all is, that he adores his young wife, who, by the way, makes an excellent housekeeper.